M
Michael Press
Guest
In article
<[email protected]>,
"B. Lafferty" <[email protected]> wrote:
> "Callistus Valerius" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > The difference is,
> >> climbing an 8000 meter peak is inherently dangerous. Riding across
> >> America is not, many tourists survive it every year. The danger is
> >> partly caused by the structure of the race. If, for example, it
> >> mandated a four hour rest period every 24 hours, it would still be
> >> a race across America. There would still be hazards from traffic,
> >> but the sleep deprivation would be neutralized.
> >>
> >> Races stop if the risks are too high. The Mille Miglia stopped.
> >>
> >> Ben
> >> not a mountaineer
> >
> >
> > Why is climbing an 8000 meter peak inherently dangerous? Is it the
> > descent, afterwards? Or the grade going up? I agree on the sleep, I
> > wouldn't even drive a car in the shape they're in. There was a whole
> > family
> > wiped out here, last week, when they were driving to a speed boat
> > competition in California, in their RV. Guy went to sleep, went into a
> > ravine, and the jet fuel for the boats went off like a bomb.
>
> Perhaps because 8000 meters is where the death zone starts?
Dead zone starts at ~4300 m, the altitude where human metabolism
runs at a loss from insufficient O2.
--
Michael Press
<[email protected]>,
"B. Lafferty" <[email protected]> wrote:
> "Callistus Valerius" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > The difference is,
> >> climbing an 8000 meter peak is inherently dangerous. Riding across
> >> America is not, many tourists survive it every year. The danger is
> >> partly caused by the structure of the race. If, for example, it
> >> mandated a four hour rest period every 24 hours, it would still be
> >> a race across America. There would still be hazards from traffic,
> >> but the sleep deprivation would be neutralized.
> >>
> >> Races stop if the risks are too high. The Mille Miglia stopped.
> >>
> >> Ben
> >> not a mountaineer
> >
> >
> > Why is climbing an 8000 meter peak inherently dangerous? Is it the
> > descent, afterwards? Or the grade going up? I agree on the sleep, I
> > wouldn't even drive a car in the shape they're in. There was a whole
> > family
> > wiped out here, last week, when they were driving to a speed boat
> > competition in California, in their RV. Guy went to sleep, went into a
> > ravine, and the jet fuel for the boats went off like a bomb.
>
> Perhaps because 8000 meters is where the death zone starts?
Dead zone starts at ~4300 m, the altitude where human metabolism
runs at a loss from insufficient O2.
--
Michael Press